Storm forecast to weaken to tropical depression after second mainland landfall

Hurricane Polo was a Category 3 storm Sunday morning as it tracked toward Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was projected to make landfall along the peninsula sometime Monday afternoon.

According to the NHC’s 5 a.m. MST update, Polo was about 285 miles west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and 295 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico. Maximum sustained winds were 120 mph, and the storm was moving north-northwest at 10 mph.

The NHC issued hurricane warnings for both coasts of Baja California Sur: the west coast from Punta Abreojos to Santa Fe, and the east coast from Loreto to Santa Rosalia. Hurricane watches extended along additional stretches of the peninsula — the west coast from Punta Abreojos north to Punta Eugenia, the east coast from Loreto south to San Evaristo, and the east coast from Santa Rosalia south to Bahia San Juan Bautista — and to mainland Mexico from Huatabampito to Bahia Kino.

Tropical storm warnings covered the west coast of Baja California Sur from Punta Abreojos north to Punta Eugenia, the east coast from Santa Rosalia north to Bahia San Juan Bautista, and the east coast from Loreto south to San Evaristo. A tropical storm watch was in effect for mainland Mexico from Huatabampito south to Topolobampo.

“On the forecast track, Polo is expected to approach the west coast of Baja California Sur on Monday, move across the peninsula Monday night and then approach northwestern main Mexico by early Tuesday,” the NHC said in its update.

After making a second landfall, the storm was expected to weaken to a tropical storm before further weakening to a tropical depression as it moved into the United States late Tuesday.

The NHC warned residents of Baja California Sur to finalize efforts to protect life and property as the storm approached. The system was forecast to produce 4 to 8 inches of rain across portions of Baja California Sur, with isolated totals up to 10 inches.

The NHC cautioned that the rainfall could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides in the region.